Four regional social business hubs, one of which on the left side of the Nistru, will be set up as part of a project that aims to develop social entrepreneurship. Each regional hub will be capacitated in a number of areas and at least 80 social enterprises will be supported by these new hubs.
The implementation of the four hubs is one of the objectives of the project “Harnessing CSOs’ potential to promote and develop the social entrepreneurship in Moldova” that is financed by the European Union and co-financed by Sweden in partnership with East Europe Foundation, the Contact Center and Keystone Moldova. The project lasts for three years, since January 2022 until the end of 2024, Oxana Isac, Keystone Moldova project coordinator, stated in a news conference hosted by IPN.
“The project contributes to the creation of a favorable ecosystem for the development of social enterprises in the Republic of Moldova. Given this objective, the principal objective of the project is to empower civil society organizations in Moldova to create social enterprises, which will contribute to the sustainable economic growth of communities. The project is proposing a strong capacity building program, especially around business and financial management both for social enterprises and for regional social business hubs, which will further guide the social enterprises. Additionally, with project support, CSOs will help empower disadvantaged people – the youth, people with disabilities, returned migrants, Roma minority, the elderly – to be socially and economically included in the labor market,” said the project coordinator.
The first step was already taken by assessing the barriers to the development of social enterprises and exploring new intervention plans for the facilitation of social entrepreneurship in the Republic of Moldova.
The project will facilitate the starting and development of 15 sustainable social enterprises. The social enterprises will improve the internal management and become more visible at local and regional level through continued guidance and mentoring from regional social business hubs. The products/services developed within the social enterprises will be placed on marketplace adapted to the online sale. The fourth objective will be achieved with the assistance of civil society organizations. Five CSOs will develop at least 5 awareness raising activities centering on social entrepreneurship and development of social enterprises.
Oxana Isac also said that a national media campaign will be conducted to change knowledge and attitudes of general population regarding social entrepreneurship. “All these activities carried out as part of the project will contribute to the creation of economic and social opportunities for persons from disadvantaged categories, by developing social enterprises and increasing awareness of the population and local authorities of the role of the social enterprises in developing communities,” stated Oxana Isac.
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